Aug 26th, 3:30 a.m.

Kris had changed back to vampire as she lay sleeping in the dog bed; her collar had fallen to the floor. Eric spent an hour watching her, looking over every inch of her naked, porcelain-skinned body, her softly chiseled face, her beautiful golden hair.

Pam had been long gone, and as much as he wanted to keep staring at Kris, he got the book Vilgot gave to her and skimmed it over.

A human is born human and remains that way; a saber is born saber and remains saber; a saber born then changed to vampire remains saber…

Saber-vampires have unique qualities, among them telepathy, mind-control…They have less abilities than vampire, though no less beneficial …

Eric had only just begun to read, and he didn't like what he had read thus far. Telepathy he could handle, but mind-control he wasn't so sure about.

Sabers are as any feline: they breathe, require blood as well as raw meat while in their form, and can reproduce, but only with another full-bred saber. Yet when they are changed to vampire they retain a body temperature of 64 degrees, as opposed to the full-bred 104 ...

Saber-vampires are not immune to feline diseases and can be fatal, regardless of the vampire blood regenerating …

… Their life span averages two hundred …

That was what Eric wanted to know, how long Kris would be with him. Two hundred years as a vampire was nothing, really, but it wouldn't be nearly as long as he would have liked. Still, he was grateful.

"You need to stop reading those Penthouse Forum articles, Eric. They'll make your Swedish Penish shrink."

He shot her a nasty glare before a small smile rose on his lips. She was then lying on her stomach, her chin in her hands; her back illuminated sexily by the fire; a slight tease from her breasts between her elbows. "Don't tell me you're still high?"

"Nah, just tongue tied," she snickered. "Learn anything?"

"Not much. You do you feel?" he asked, closing the book and setting it on the coffee table.

"Hungry and a little tired." She sat up and pulled her legs close to her, knowing full well she was still showing her exaggerated cleavage. She couldn't have cared in the least. The more she was naked around him the more comfortable she became. It wasn't like she was flaunting herself, she was becoming less embarrassed about her body.

"It's almost 3:30, too late to find a human," Eric pointed out.

"Can't you call Pam to bring one back with her?"

"She never takes her cell phone with her."

"Well, poo."

There was a moment of silence before Eric asked, "Do you like Matt?"

The smile on her face answered his question. "I'd like to see him again. He seems like a good guy, and Scott, too." Eric didn't reply, but there was something in the way he looked at her she didn't know how to read. "I don't think it'd hurt if I took just a little from you."

Smiling wickedly, he patted the cushion beside him. She raced to the couch in hopes he didn't see too much and grabbed the blanket to cover herself, but he took it from her and threw it across the room. She kicked herself to the arm rest and took her usual pose, to hide as much as she could.

He extended his hand to her, which she refused. "Oh, come now. Are you afraid of me?" She shook her head. "You're afraid of something."

"No, I'm not."

"Then why do I feel you quivering through the cushions?"

Remembering how defensive she'd been toward him when he would get that assertive, she had to be honest with herself, and to Eric. "I can handle feeding, but my damned body starts to take over. I can't … It's not easy …"

"No, it's not." Before she even felt her body move, she was sitting in his lap, both of her legs draped over his leg, his arms behind her keeping her in place. Her breasts were hidden, being flush against his thin tank top, their lips just inches apart. She felt the heat in the palm of her hand that was gripping his shoulder, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to let go. She wanted him just as much as she wanted to run from the room and get as far away from him as possible.

"Don't think …" He kissed her left cheek. "… just because you're fast …" He kissed her other cheek, forcing her to close her eyes. "… doesn't mean I didn't see your …" He kissed the corner of her mouth; she parted her lips slightly, though she didn't know if she wanted the passion she was beginning to feel to continue. "… flawless, desirable body."

She turned her head just enough so their lips met in a tender, gentle, loving kiss. Instinctively her fangs popped out and she pulled back. He smiled then flicked his tongue under one of her fangs before he pressed his lips hard against hers, his own fangs already protruding. His hand slid up to her neck while his other began to explore her back. When his fingertips reached the nape of her neck, his fingers wrapped around her hair, and he pulled her head back. Without a word, he licked her neck ever so pussy-tingling slowly then looked heavily into her eyes.

Her upper chest began to vibrate loudly, even though she tried to keep it back. He growled, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed hard. "You've no idea how fucking sexy you are and how erotic it feels when you purr against my chest."

"And you, Mr. Northman, have no idea how hungry I am." She dove onto his neck without any warning, her fangs easily slicing into his skin, lapping at the incredible taste of his blood. She clung to him with her hands tightly on the top of his shoulders, kneading his muscles before she cupped the free side of his neck.

"Ohhh, yes," he murmured breathlessly against her ear, causing the hairs on her arms to rise. "Let your true nature take over you, Kris. Take in my power, take my strength. Feel my yearning for you."

His commanding, guttural voice echoed through her brain, and she knew at that moment if she didn't stop she'd jump him sure as the moon rose every evening. She removed her fangs from his neck, though didn't even bother retracting them. There was no way she'd be able to hide her true feelings anyway.

But then Matt's kind, gentle face flashed in front of her eyes. She knew at that moment she'd have to stop before her simple feeding turned into something she wasn't ready for. Leaning her upper body back, she said, though her voice wasn't urgent. "Eric, let me go." He did nothing but kiss her neck. "Please," she pleaded without much conviction.

He groaned. "We can always take it to the flat."

"Huh?" Then it hit her. "You … you know? How?"

Brushing her hair away from her face but keeping them there, he replied, "The look in your black saber eyes when you looked in the room." He kissed her forehead. "Have fun with your Scottish human, baby vamp. When you're ready for what a real male can give you, you know where to find one." He let his arms slip down to his sides.

Slowly and teasingly she stood in front of him, letting him eye her body. She prayed he didn't see her shaking. "Thanks for your help tonight." She bent down, kissed his cheek, and went to the doorway; his wide, hungry eyes followed her. "Oh, and Eric, when I do find that real male, as you put it, you'll be the first to know."

Racing upstairs, she paced the floor for a good ten minutes trying to calm down. It did little to help. Getting a whiff of her post-feline smell, she went to the bathroom and ran the water as hot as she could make it. Slipping in, she let her head go underwater and let the silence surround her.

Kris heard a muffled voice from above her, and when she opened her eyes she saw a wet, blurry Pam staring down on her. "Huh? A bee wrote a will with a nightmare text?"

Pam didn't repeat herself but sat on the closed toilet seat. Kris scooted herself up and put her head on the edge of the tub. "I said," she snipped, "Tara and Willa will be coming night after next."

"Oh, cool! But … we are not going anywhere those kids at the school, not until I can find some real friends."

"Agreed. Eric suggested you redecorate the flat, if you want. Maybe if the girls like it it'll convince them to stay."

"Oh, Pam, I doubt that'll do the trick. But I look forward to meeting them."

"So, what are you intentions with Matthew?"

"My intentions? God, you really need to get out of the south," she teased. "Just get to know him, maybe play kissy-face with him since our first date pretty much sucked."

"Kissy-face?" she said as she stood. "You need a thesaurus. I'll close your blinds for the day. Don't fall asleep in the water."

"Yes, Auntie."